Interview with a Google Maps Street View Driver

The Google Maps “Street View car” was making it rounds on Eighth Street in Imperial Beach on July 27 when it pulled into Veterans Park and stopped. The driver introduced himself as “Google Mike” and explained what he was doing in town.

“I’m remapping everything from El Centro to Temecula. We started with 26 drivers and then one day they fired everybody but me. Today I have been yelled at once and flipped off three times.

“One thing people can do to protect their privacy is keep their garage doors closed. I try re-driving a street if there’s an open garage door or if people are out with their kids. We have software for blurring faces, but we’re working on new technology for removing people and cars completely and adding a white square over an open garage door.

“Driving around, I do feel very conspicuous, but I have a feeling if I leave the keys in the car no one is going to drive away in it.”

Comments

What's the big deal about having an open garage door? People can see your car? What a waste that “privacy” is all the writer could think to ask about. Most people would think it's pretty cool to be caught on Street View.

Google maps street view is great. When I visited Chile a couple of years ago, I was able to show my hosts my house, with my truck in the driveway. Then, I showed them the shop I worked at, with my truck parked there, too. I travel for a living, and street view more than once has made a difference on where I choose for a hotel, or shown me how to drive to a remote location. It's far and away better than the Microsoft Streets and Trips program that I keep on my laptop.